Coachella Artist: Kings of Leon
The three brothers and a cousin that make up Kings of Leon have a childhood upbringing that could be written into an old southern novel. Growing up in Tennessee, driving all around the south ,following their father, who was a Pentecostal Church Minister, through the southern-revival meeting circuit. The group were introduced to music here and there as they traveled most of the time in the form of drums. Being strictly relegated to listening to only secular gospel music, the boys of Leon would sneak in some rock n’ roll influences.
As they grew up, and with the divorce of their parents, the boys branched out and explored their undiscovered areas outside of their secular upbringing. They formed a country band that would play at many rodeos throughout the south. Influenced by their religious upbringing and the music of the south, the group were signed to Pistol Creek Records for a short period of time, but didn’t receive international recognition until they were introduced to producer Angelo Petraglia at RCA records who pushed them into a more rock ‘n roll direction. From this jumping point they would release their first EP, Holy Roller Novocaine, in 2002 followed up by their critically acclaimed full length Youth and Young Manhood in 2005 which gained them an opening spot on the U2 and Strokes tour. Their next album, Aha Shake Heartbreak would gain even more success, especially in the UK.
Their upbringing in the south and their lives now almost seem like two different stories about two different groups of people. Their rise from their dusty bible bleached upbringing to their UK rock stardom that has them constantly in the tabloids, is an interesting dichotomy that courses through their music.Where their debut and ep were mostly southern rock influenced, their new album Because of the Times shows other influences like the pixies and other Seattle grunge bands. An article here makes a good point Pearl Jam may have been a big influence on them during the tour last November. Either way, the tracks I have heard from their new album are sounding great.
Songs:
“Charmer” (Good write up on the band as well)
“On Call”
Live “McFearless” on AOL Sessions
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF0Lq3P6peU]
Tags: coachella, Kings of Leon